Thompsons secured £22,500 in compensation for a driver who was injured after another vehicle slid on ice and collided with her car on the A68 near Pathhead in Midlothian. The claim was pursued after the injured driver contacted Thompsons for help following the road traffic accident.
What Happened
On 13 February 2021, the claimant, Ms Audrey Anderson, was driving on the A68 south of Pathhead in Midlothian during very cold weather conditions.
There was ice on the road surface and, while driving, her vehicle slid after hitting an icy patch. The car came to a stop at the side of the road. At that point she was safe and had not been injured.
Moments later, another vehicle also lost control on the ice and slid into her stationary car.
The impact caused significant damage to the vehicle and the car was subsequently written off.
Injuries and Impact
Following the accident, Thompsons arranged for medical evidence to assess the injuries Ms Anderson had sustained.
A GP report confirmed that she was suffering from neck and shoulder pain as well as paraesthesia, which included burning, tingling and numbness in her right hand, right index finger and right middle finger.
She also experienced symptoms of anxiety following the accident. The initial medical prognosis suggested that she would recover within five months.
However, as time passed, her symptoms began to worsen rather than improve.
Further medical evidence was obtained from an orthopaedic expert and a psychological expert. These reports resulted in Ms Anderson being referred to a pain specialist because of ongoing symptoms of neuropraxia, a traumatic peripheral nerve injury.
Legal Approach
Thompsons Solicitors Scotland pursued a compensation claim against the third-party driver’s insurer following the accident.
When Ms Anderson’s symptoms did not improve as expected, Thompsons obtained additional medical reports from specialist experts to fully assess the extent of her injuries and ongoing symptoms.
These medical reports were provided to the defender as part of the ongoing negotiations.
Outcome
The defender initially made a settlement offer of £2,670. Thompsons advised that the offer did not reflect the extent of the injuries and it was rejected.
A second offer of £2,710 was also rejected.
After further medical evidence was obtained and provided to the defender, Thompsons made a counter-offer on behalf of Ms Anderson.
The defender subsequently increased the offer to £20,000 and, following further negotiations, a final settlement figure of £22,500 was agreed.
Thompsons secured £22,500 in compensation for Ms Anderson and the car accident claim settled in August 2022.
What this case shows
This case highlights how injuries following road traffic accidents can develop or worsen over time, making it important to obtain thorough medical evidence before agreeing to a settlement.
People injured in similar incidents may be able to pursue compensation through motor accident claims. Thompsons can often assist clients through the claims process under a No Win No Fee agreement.
Anyone seeking advice after a road traffic accident can contact Thompsons to discuss their situation.
